Malaysia to cancel Internet filter after international condemnations

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 12 — Malaysia is to cancel an Internet filter tender that drew comparisons with China’s “Green Dam” project and triggered an outcry from opposition politicians as well as criticism from industry bodies, a source told Reuters. No one from the industry regulator, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission, was immediately available for comment.

The body has said the tender was for a study of Internet usage so as to boost Malaysian content on the net and that reports of a filter were “sensationalised”.

A copy of the tender documents, seen by Reuters, appeared to contradict that statement.